Maggie ONeill

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Here's how to build better relationships with your community workforce, local government, and area businesses. There is much to consider when company leaders begin negotiating and collaborating with local governments to possibly open headquarters in a new or unfamiliar area. It's not only about understanding the potential target audience, but it's also about protecting, respecting, and maintaining the workforce and consumer pipeline that already occupies the community. All brands must be aware of the direct impact and responsibility that comes with settling into the cities they plan to conduct business in worldwide. Here, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer tips to help business leaders execute their grand opening plans without a hitch—and with the local community's connection and buy-in.

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Here are 10 steps to consider taking before you sign the ownership agreement. Evaluating a potential franchise partnership should never be a cut-and-dry transaction. Instead, leaders must do their due diligence to research the industries they are most passionate about and willing to go the extra mile for day after day when they're in the trenches. Below, 10 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each offer one best practice to help aspiring business owners pick the right franchise before they sign the contract.

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11 key areas that are crucial for business leaders to keep in-house if they want the company to stay on track. As digital solutions continue to become available, shifting tedious tasks and daily routines away from the leaders and staff members of small, medium, or large organizations, there are still certain business functions at a company—no matter what size— that should never be outsourced.  Below 11 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on what parts of the establishment managers and their teams must continue to oversee to ensure their continued success in the core business and mission they originally set out to achieve.

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Here's how to build product and service momentum that continues to resonate with customers.  How do you keep the buzz going about your company's new product or service when the thrill of the launch is gone? It starts by treating the initial launch as just the beginning—with no foreseeable end in sight. Brand leaders can master this strategy by creating fresh content and sourcing updated data analysis that will give current and potential customers something to talk about. Below, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share additional best practices to keep your company newsworthy during and beyond the initial buzz.

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If you are just starting to think about your marking strategy, you're already behind—but it's not too late. The holiday season can be extremely competitive when it comes to attracting the attention of hesitant consumers. This is an ever-increasing dilemma in today's uncertain economy. In order to stand out, the company leaders must analyze the market trends carefully in order to provide the right solutions to potential and current customers. They also need to be flexible enough to change direction if a campaign isn't landing well.  Here, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share their tips to finalize and implement marketing and sales strategies for the upcoming holiday season that will help companies stay ahead in the marketplace.

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Do your team members possess these key characteristics?   The key to maintaining longevity in business is to hire the right people who can best represent your company and its core values. Whether it's someone who is excellent at forecasting what leadership should be focusing on for the future or an employee who does a great job keeping the team morale elevated with their high energy and daily motivation, staff members can make or break the company's long-term success.  Here, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members explore the type of talent and characteristics that are essential for leaders to bring on board to manage their company's operations and achieve growth objectives effectively.

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Business leaders offer guidance on elevating your career in a struggling economy. With so many things happening in today's world, it may sometimes seem like it's impossible to ever get ahead. In a competitive, uncertain marketplace, how can employees begin to elevate their career status so they can move ahead and support themselves and their families in an impactful way? Below, 20 experts from Fast Company Executive Board share their top tips to help industry colleagues make better decisions concerning their personal strengths and the goals that will lead to more progress.

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Business leaders discuss their best practices. In today's marketplace, there's no way around it, no matter what the industry—content rules. But when it comes to attracting new clients and retaining longtime customers, how do you grab their attention without losing their interest every time? Doing so can be hit or miss. It's one thing to simply create general content and it's another to genuinely engage your audience and give them something to look forward to watching and reading on a regular basis. Whether it's a brand newsletter, a company social channel, or a new business podcast, members from Fast Company Executive Board have plenty of experience. They are here to explain 20 methods to encourage your target base to read, watch, hit the subscribe button, and share.

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Layoffs aren't the only way to cut overhead costs in a challenging economy. In times of economic difficulty, companies often face tough decisions when it comes to retaining employees. Layoffs can seem like the only viable solution to cut costs and survive financially. However, these decisions can have lasting impacts on the morale and productivity of the remaining team members. Fortunately, there are alternative strategies that companies can employ to avoid layoffs and increase job security for their employees. To that end, a panel of Fast Company Executive Board members offer their top-recommended strategies for keeping your staff intact and discuss their potential benefits for both companies and employees.

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Consider these best practices to enhance your business focus. Spring cleaning in the workplace is more than just getting rid of old files, so you can consolidate your space. It can also be an annual ritual for leaders and teams to renew their mindset and create smarter, more efficient ways to conduct business operations and satisfy their customers' biggest pain points. In the long term, decluttering your physical business space and readjusting old procedures and thinking patterns can free your time to focus on what matters most for your company to succeed. Eleven leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board share the same sentiment. Here, they discuss their plans for spring cleaning and what they hope to accomplish by doing so.

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Business experts discuss their media communication strategies. If you're a rising brand in search of building relations with a high-profile figure on social media platforms, it may not be as difficult as you think to attract some initial attention if you approach these potential partners in the right manner. Instead of hoping that they'll possibly respond to your casual direct message, research who their official contact person is and write up a serious proposal.  But just like matrimony, it's all about the relationship and connectivity. It's an important business commitment to consider and neither party should ever take it lightly. Therefore, be honest about your intentions and see if it's a good match first before you (and the company) get involved. If you do your homework, be generous with your time, and make it less about, only you, in the end, it may end up being a tremendous win for all. Below, 12 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on the best approach to appeal to a social media influencer and get them on board as ambassadors to help promote what your business is offering. 

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Be calm and professional in the workplace, so you can lead your employees by example. When you are dealing with team dynamics and diverse perspectives in the workplace environment, there are bound to be occasions when team leaders or co-workers disagree over the projected plans on an assignment or a decision that was made. In these cases, it's best for everyone involved to put the conversation on pause so they can take time to reflect on what's happening and refrain themselves from overreacting on the spot. Here are 13 suggestions from Fast Company Executive Board members to help agitated colleagues focus on the business at hand without losing their cool.

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Leading business professionals offer tips to engage team members all year round. When the holiday season is over and the company is entering a slow business period, it's common for employees to become easily distracted or disengaged if there is no action plan and nothing to look forward to at work. It can also cause some staff members to feel uninspired until the next big project comes along and the business is back up and running at a normal pace. No matter what time of year it is some employees may be feeling stuck, creatively, or in a siloed state of mind. Below, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members discuss their ideas to start conversations and spark creativity and collaboration among your employees, all 12 months.

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Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and take the next step to increase your personal connections.  Whether you consider yourself an introverted or extroverted business person, it's always key to find a way to expand your network if you want to elevate your professional reputation and knowledge base. It can help you become more engaged in the industry or community you represent and share with others who are not inside your immediate circle. Below, 14 Fast Company Executive Board members discuss their ideas on how colleagues can become open to developing a new mindset and potentially provide resources for those in need through partnerships with other peers.